Combination-lock



A. E. MILLER.

COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION man MAY a. 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

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ARTHUR E. MILLER, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

Speceaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1.9231.

Application filed May 3, 1920. Serial No. 378,503.

To all w imm t may concern Be it known that I, Ania-inn E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain neu' and useful Improvements in Combination-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in permutation locks substantially the type shown, for instance. in the former Patent No. 1,312,938, dated August 12, l1919; although the several improvements which I will hereinafter describe are applicable to other forms of socalled -fcmbination locks and hence may be ifilied thereto AWithout departure from the salir-ut Jeatin-cs of the present invention.

)in essential object of the invention I ani about to describe is to simplify and render more effective for the intended purposes, a

of the character before referred to, and to rovide increased security to the lock and to make it more certain of operation and more difficult for the loch to be opened by an unauthorized person.

W li the above and other obj xits in view,

my intention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations ot' `parts which I will hereinafter deand claim. In the accompanying i forming part of this specification in which similar reference characters fe like parts in the several views;

is a longitudinal sectional view embot ying my invention and assoh oarts or the steering elements of olle.

. is a plan view and edge View parin section of the outer tumbler of my 4o tial is a plan vieuv and edge view partially broken away of the inner tumbler.

Fig. -l is a perspective view of the protector ring.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a stationary tumbler of modified form.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a further modified stationary tumbler.

Fig. 8 illustrates a modified construction of the head of the main operating bolt.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail to be hereinafter referred to.

Fig. 10 illustrates a fragment of the locking bolt in association With safety locking sleeves on the steering post.

For present purposes, I have shown my improved lock in association with features which constitute a safety locking mechanism for the steering post or element of an automobile or like vehicle, but to this particular use the invention is not to be considered restricted, since the improvements I will hereinafter refer to relate to the lock itself rather than to the features Which connect the same to the steering'post or element.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the lock with a casing of suitable size and design, .fl casing substantially of the type shown in the prior patent mentioned, I have illustrated herein as it Will answer my presentpurposes. This casing, 2, is made With a rigid base portion, 3, which forms a member of a. clamp, and is shown hollovved out so that it may fit the rounded surface of the usual housing, t, Which covers the steering post, 5. The other member ofthe body of the lock is in the form of a strap or clamp, 6, which fits the opposite side of the housing, the strap and the base of the lock case being rigidly secured together by suitable screws, '7.

The lock case has an internal bore sufficient to operatively contain the tumblers and other active parts of the lock, the outer end of the case being recessed at 8, While at the bottom of this recess there is an inwardly projecting flange, 9, forming a stationar tumbler, having an opening, l0. Within the lock case is a bolt, 11, adapted for both axial and longitudinal movement, said bolt carrying an enlarged head, 12, at its outer end adapted to the recess, 8, and designed to be supported, at times, on the flange, 9, or stationary tumbler, said bolt having a transversely extending pin, 13, adapted by the rotation of the bolt to be brought into register With the opening, 10, in the flange, 9, to thereby permit the bolt to be moved longitudinally and its pin, 13, to pass through said opening and when the bolt is partially rotated, to be seated on the outer surface of the flange thereby holding the bolt in a retracted open position.

Within the lock casing and, preferably, just under the flange, 9, is a bushing or protector ring, 14, Which is tightly fitted in place and has its inner circumference provided with an annular series of parallel radially disposed grooves, 15, adapted to be en gaged by a loose ball, 16, carried at the outer end of a tube, 17, fixed to the bolt and extending radially therefrom, said tube containing a spring, 17', Which forms a yielding seat for the ball and insures said ball being maintained in contact with the grooved, inner surface of 'the bushing, so that during the rotation of the bolt, 11, in Working the combination, the ball Will be caused to ride over the grooves in the bushing and by the clicking sound thus produced and the vibration conducted lthrough the bolt to the operating milled head thereof and the operators fingers will aid the operator in Working the combination even in the absence of light suflicient vto enable the combination to be read from the usual indicia on the head of the bolt and on the casing surrounding said head, as Will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. A portion of the inner surface of the ring, 14, is left smooth at 18, say by eliminating two or more of the grooves. This is to enable me, in practice, to use numbers 1 to 20, instead of any zeros in the indicia on the outer face of the lock casing and to have the number 20 indicating this portion, 18. In operation, the passage of the ball over the grooves is indicated by touch and sound as each groove is passed andthis assists the operatork in Working the combination.

On the bolt, 11, just below the protector ring or bushing, let, is a loose Washer, 16a, and beloiv this are the tumblers, which constitute a prominent feature of my present invention. These tumblers, 18, 19, are concentrically arranged, as in the prior patent mentioned, and their detailed construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The tumblers are stepped or flanged so that one fits smoothly Within lthe other and when assembled their top and bottom faces are substantially flush. The inner tumbler, 18, has an opening, 20, through its outer side and the outer tumbler,

Y 19, has a like opening, 21, through its inner side, which openings are designed to be brought into register to enable the main bolt to be moved in the direction Vofits length.

The inner tumbler, 18, is also provided with an annular series of holes, 22, adapted for the reception of a pin or pins, 23, in changing the combination which controls the lock. The series of holes, 22, are formed in an annular shoulder or stepped portion, 24, formed by reducing the diameter or" the tumbler at -this point and the pin or pins, 23, accordingly extend parallel with the main bolt and project a desired distance beyond the face of the tumbler to enable it to be engaged by a pin, 25, on the companion outer tumbler, said pin, 25, in the present instance, however, projecting radially oi: the axis Vof this tumbler and substantially at right-angles to the pin 23, of the inner tumbler, and being parallel with and Operating over or close to the annular shoulder, 24, and in the path of movement of the pin, 23,

of. Ithe rotatable inner tumbler, said latter pin, 23, being engaged by a radial pin, 26, on the main operating bolt. In operation, the rotary bolt is turned, say to the right, until the usual pointer, 12', on the head, 12, registers with the proper character or unit, 2, or" the combination, on the lock casing; during this movement the radial pin, 26, Vhas engaged the pin, 23, ofthe inner tumbler and rotated said tumbler to first bring its pin into engagement With `the pin 25, of the outer tumbler and then to give motion to both tumblers, the motion being continued 'until the second character of the combination is reached, which posi-tions the opening. 21, in said outer tumbler. rlhen the bolt is turned to the right until its radial pin, 26. engages the pin, 23, of the inner tumbler from the opposite side, `thus giving motion to this tumbler and bringing its opening, 2li, into register With the like opening', 2l, in the outer tumbler. Then this described position of the openings, 2G, 21, has been secured, and Athe radial pin, 26, registers therewith, the bolt, 11, is in position to be \vithdra\.\.n from its locking engagement With the locking recess in the steering post, as will be readily understood; during this actuation ot the tumblers, the radial pin, 13, has also been brought into register with the opening, 10, in the stationary tumbler or flange, 9, s that it may also pass therethrough and be seated on the outer surface thereof to support the bolt in its Withdrawn position. To reset the lock, the bolt is rotated until its pin, 13, registers with the opening, 10, When the bolt may be pushed in until its end enters the locking recess in the part to be secured andthe tumblers scattered by the rotation of said bolt.

The outer tumbler also has an annular flange,19, forming a seat for one end of a spiral spring, 28, which supports the tumblers, said spring having its opposite end seating against a loose dislr, 29, which in turn is adapted to an annular seat, 30, on the inner end of the loclr casing, said dislr, 29, having a cent-ral opening for the passage ot the inner end of the locking bolt, 11. and aving a flange or collar, 31, surrounding said opening and adapted to enter the hole in the steering post iousino a.

The purpose of the collar, 31, of my iin-V provement will be understood from the following: If force is applied to a locl With a vieiv of turning its casing on Ithe steering post 'housing When the latter is locked, the housing might be bent slightly and if so the' easy operation of the bolt might be affected by the tendency of the bol-t to bend, but the collar bears against thek Wall of the recess for the bolt and taires the strain arising from any forcible attempt to turn the lool; on the housing, and thus relieves the bolt trom lateral stra-in and insures its easy and true operation at all times.

In Fig. 5 I show a modiiication ol the stationary tumbler shown in Fig. 1. In this modied construction the tumbler', 82, has formed in its underside a number of depressions, 31, one ot' these depressions be ing cut entirely through the tumbler to form the opening, 33, ior the passage ot the radial pin, 15, on the head of the bolt, and which pin operates just beneath the tumbler. Sometimes lool; is opened by pulling up strongly on the head ot the bolt and Working the bolt around to the right and leift back and forth, when the openings, 20, 2l, in the tumbler-s are sometimes brought into alinement and the bolt permitted to be Withdrawn. By making the stationary tumbler with its depressions, 33, when the bolt is rotated, the radial pin, 13, thereot will enter one of the notches or depressions in the stationary tumbler and it is then impossible to turn the head ot the bolt until the bolt is forced into its proper place when no amount ot turning will all'ect the relation ot the two movable tnmblers. The opening 33, in the stationary tumbler is tor the passage ot the radial pin, i3, in the same manner as described for the like opening of the tumbler or flange, 9, ot Fig. l. The depressions may be in one or both sides of the stationary tumbler, a tumbler having its top surface also provided With depressions, 34, being shown at 35, in Fig. 7. An object of these depressions is, accordingly, to preventaccidental locking of the bolt when unlocked, as Will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Instead ot making the stationary tumbler in the form ot a tlange that is integral with the lool: casing. I have shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, said tumbler as being in the torni olf a senarate Washer Ywhich is forced into the casi and fits snugly up against the aforesaid tiange so that it the head ot the bolt is pulled upwardly when the combination is being vv rled, the radial pin, 13, Will enter one ci' the notches in the washer and prevent tui-ther movement oi-the locking pin, unless that notch is the one which is in register with the opening, 10, in the flange for the passage or" the radial pin. IlVhen made as a separate Washer or disk, as last described, the notched tumbler will be held in place by the bushing or indicator ring, 14, as shown, this ring being forced into the barrel ot the lock just below the Washer.

In some instances I may wish to change the location ot the indicator ring and the spring-pressed ball which clicks past the grooves in this ring. and hence in Fig. 8, I shonv the indicator ring, 36, or bushing as surrounding the head of the lock-bolt, and in the head ot this bolt is a bore, 37, which contains the spring Llor pressing the ball, 3S into contact with the grooved surface said ring. In said Itig. 8, I. also show the head of the locking bolt as being made ot separable parts, the outer part being in the form ot a cap, 39. In this instance, the main part of the head carries a pin, 39a, which may serve as the means for turning the head, even after the cap is removed. That this phase ot the invention may be better understood, I will say that if great iorcc exerted by means of a Wrench or otherwise upon the head oi' the locking bolt, there is a possibility ot the radial pins or some oi1 the parts of the bolt beinebroken or bent so as to prevent the successful manipulation oi the lock in the usual manner, but with a cap made and applied to the head ot the bolt, as indicated, when torce is exerted upwardly on the cap, instead ot this resulting in the breaking of one or more of the pins ol? the bolt or the lock mechanism, the cap would be sepa-rated from the head proper ot the bolt, but leaving the pin, 39, exposed so that it could be grasped by the lingers for rotating the bolt the head ot Which might be ush With or slightly below the outer end of the barrel of the lock casing, Where it could not be readily grasped by the fingers for turning purposes. W'hen using the cap shown. in Fig. 8, its under surface will resi` on top ot the indicator ring or bushing, 56, an arrangement Which Will permit the lock to be shortened to some extent and may cheapen the cost ot construction, both ot material and labor.

In 10,` I show in connection With the steering post and its housing the segmental sl pe y sleeves. 40, l1, ot my former application, Serial Number 371,695, liled April 6. 1920, and With Twhich construction I may use the present lock improvements, if desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as nenY and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is l. In a lock, the combination with cas ing and an operating bolt therein capable of rotary and longitudinal movement, and provided with a radial pin, ot afpair ot coacting tumblers arranged concentric with the bolt and With each other, said tumblers having pins one arranged crossivise or" the other and actuatedthereby and said tumblers having registering openings in their inner faces for the reception of the radial pin of said bolt.

2. In a lock, the combination with a casing and an operating bolt therein capable of rotary and longitudinal movement, said casing having a recessed head portion and a stationary tumbler arranged thereunder and provided with a radial opening, said bolt having a radial pin adapted to register with said opening, ol' a pair of coacting movable tumblersl arranged concentric with the bolt and with each other, said movable tumblers having' pins one arranged cross-vise oit the other and actuated thereby,v said tumblers having openings in their under taces opening through the periphery thereof, and a second radial pin on the bolt adapted to enter said opening when in register therewith.

3. In a lock, the combination with a easing and a bolt therein capable or combined rotary and longitudinal movement, said bolt having radially-extending pin, ot a pair oi coacting movable tumblers one mounted concentrically Within the other, one ot said movable tumblers having an annular shoulder provided with a series ot holes and a pin adapted to said holes, and the other movable tumbler having pin projecting from its inner circumference at right angles to and across the path of movement of the pin oi the companion tumbl r, said bolt having a radially projecting pin adapted to engage the pin ot' the first-mentioned tumbler.

Ll. In a lock, the combination with a easing and an operating bolt therein adapted for rotary and longitudimil movement, said bolt having a radially projecting pin, of inner and outer tumblers, one supported concentrically on the other, said inner tumbler having an exterior annular shoulder provided with a series of holes, and a pin adapt*- ed to said holes and extending parallel With the axis of the tumbler, and said outer tumbler having a pin projecting radially from its inner circumference across said shoulder and into the range ot action of the firsts named tumbler pin, each of said tumblers having an opening adapted to be brought into register for the reception oit the radial pin of said operating bolt.

5; In a lock, the combination with a casing, an operating bolt therein capable of rotary and longitudinal movement, and complementary tumbler mechanism in said casing, oit an indicator means in the head ot' the lock casing and comprising a ring fixed in the casing and having a grooved inner eireumference, and a radially-actuated springsupported sphere carried by the bolt adapted to crosswise operate over the grooves o'l'said ring.

6. In a lock, the` combination with a casing, an operating bolt therein capable of rotar and longitudinal movement and complementary tumbler mechanism in said casing, of an indicator means in the head of the lock casing and comprising a ring fixed in the casing and having a grooved inner eireumi'erence, a tube iiXed to and projecting` radiallyl from said bolt, a spring housed in the tube, and a ball at the outer end of the tube backed by the spring and adapted to syveep transversely across the grooves of said ring. Y

7. In a lock, the combination With a casing, an operating bolt therein capable ot rotary and longitudinal movement, and complementary tumbler mechanism in said casing, of an indicator means in the head oit theY lock casing and comprising a ring fixed in the casing and having a grooved inner cir eumterence, and a radially-actuated spring supported sphere carried by the bolt adapted to operate erosswise over the grooves o1 said Jing, said ring having, also, a minor portion ot its surface plain and ungrooved and over Which the sphere also operates.

S. In a lock, the combination Wit-h a cas ing, an operating bolt capable ot rotary and longitudinal movement and complementary tumbler mechanism in said easing, ot' a part to be locked, said part having an opening` to receive the end of said bolt, and a loose disk having an open center in which the bolt freely rotates, said loose disk having a collar surrounding its central opening and adapted to enter the opening in the part to be locked.

9. In a lock, the combination of a casing, an operating bolt therein having an enlarged head on the outer end, a cap member on the head ot the bolt, complementary tumbler mechanism in the casing, a radial pin on the bolt for actuating the tumbler mechanism, a stationary tumbler in the head end oi' the casi ng, and provided with an opening, said bolt having a radial pin adapted to said opening, an indicator ring Vconcentric With the axis of the bolt and having an annular series of parallel grooves in its inne-r circumference, and a radially operating yieldingly supported sphere carried by the bolt and adapted to sweep transversely over said surtace of the indicator ring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

` ARTHUR E. MILLER. 

